Magnetic pickup



Jan. 31, 1961 s. LAVIANO 2,970,002

MAGNETIC PICKUP Filed Jan. 20, 1959 IN V EN 710R.

JAM/1 4 A V/A 1V0 BYWW ATTOlP/VFX Un t t s Pate fo MAGNETIC PICKUPSamuel Laviano, 1004 N. Delaware St., Paulsboro, NJ.

Filed Jan. 20, 1959, Ser. No. 788,024

3 Claims. (Cl. 294--65.5)

The present invention relates to magnetic-pickup devices, and isconcerned primarily with a device intended to be used in picking upmetallic filings or other finely divided or comminuted metallicmaterials from inaccessible places such as acid vats.

At the present time, mechanics and similar workmen are confronted withthe problem of removing metallic filings or similar materials from acidvats or other places that are either inaccessible or in which it isundesirable for the operator to immerse his hands. While magneticpickupdevices generally are known, there is not now known and presentlyavailable to the public a magneticpickup device that is particularlyadapted for use with materials under the conditions indicated. With theforegoing conditions in mind, the present inventionhas in view as itsforemost objective the provision of a magneticpickup device which willsatisfy theseconditions.

More in detail, the invention has in view as an object the provision ofa magnetic-pickup device which includes as characteristic and essentialelements a plastic vtube having a magnet reciprocally mounted in one endthereof, together with manually operable means for moving the magnet.the magnet is located is a unitary piece including a cap for the end ofthe tube, together with a circular shield which prevents metallicfilings or similar materials from moving up along the tube as themagnetic is' retracted. With this arrangement, the effective end of thepickup device may be dipped into an acid vat into engagement withmetallic filings, and the magnetic force is rendered effective throughthe cap, which is also plastic. After removal from the vat, the magnetis retracted to release the filings. At the same time, the shieldprevents the filings from moving up along the exterior of the tube withthe magnet.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a magnetic-pickupdevice of the character indicated which includes a pistol grip withwhich is associated a trigger for causing retraction of the magnet whichis springbiased into effective position.

Another somewhat more detailed object is to provide, in amagnetic-pickup device of the character indicated, a metallic operatingrod which carries the operating trigger at one end and the other end ofwhich is joined to the magnetic force alone. Such a device may be easilymanufactured and is susceptible of assembly and disassembly by simplyremoving the cap-and-shield unit from one end of the tube.

Various other more detailed objects and advantages of the invention,such as arise in connection with carrying out the above-noted ideas in apractical embodiment, will in part become apparent and in part behereinafter stated as the description of the invention proceeds.

The invention therefore comprises a magnetic-pickup device consistingessentially of a plastic tube having a pistol grip at one end and aremovable cap-and-shield at the other end. A magnet is reciprocallymounted in the latter end of the tube and is connected by a magnetic2,970,002 7 Patented Jan. 31, 1951 force to an operating rod which isspring biased to move the magnet towards the cap end and which carries atrigger disposed in proper relation to the pistol grip.

For a full and more complete understanding of the in-, vention,reference may be had to the following description and accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side view, partly in section and partly'in elevation,depicting the magnetic pickup of this invention and its manner of use;

Figure 2 is a view taken on an enlarged scale and as a longitudinalsection through the tube and a portion of the handle. This view depictsthe magnet in effective po-" sition;

Figure 3 is a detail taken about on the plane represented by the line 33of Figure 2; and

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing the magnet as retracted.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference. characters denotecorresponding parts, and first more particularly to Figure 1, a vat isshown at 10 as including acid 11 and having a bottom 12 on the upperside of which metallic filings or other material to be removedAssociated'with the end of the tube in which from the vat wouldordinarily rest. The magnetic pickup of this invention is referred to inits entirety by the reference character M, and is shown in effectiveposition with relation to the vat 10.

Referring now more particularly to Figure 2, the magnetic pickup deviceM is shown as including the tube 13, which preferably is of plastic andmay be made from any of the plastics now commonly available to thepublic and which plastics have non-magnetic properties. The tube 13 hasa bore 14 into which extends a pair of circular guides 15 and 16.

As shown in Figure 3, the underside of the tube 13 is formed with a slot17 for a purpose to be later described,

A hand grip in the nature of a pistol grip is shownat 18 and is alsopreferably of plastic. The handgrip 18 is'formed with a circular recess19 which receives an end portion of the tube 13. The joinder between thetube 13 and handgrip 18 may be effected in any desired manner. Thus,japress fitmight be utilized, or a solvent which would fuse the twoplastic materials. However, in a preferred form of the invention, a pin20 is shown as passing through aligned openings in the handgrip 18 andtube 19, respectively. This pin will also function as a spring abutment,as will be later described. The end of the tube at the handgrip ispreferably closed by a plug 21.

A magnet is shown at 22 as located in the opposite end of the tube. Thismagnet 22 is preferably an alnico magnet that is now commonly availableon the open market as such. An operating rod 23 is of metal; and one endof the rod 23 is connected to the magnet 22 by the magnetism of thelatter, the joinder being illustrated at 24. The rod 23 passes throughthe guides 15 and 16, and at the end remote from the magnet 22 carries atrigger or operating pin 25 which passes through the slot 17 and islocated conveniently adjacent to the handgrip 18 so that an operator ingrasping the handgrip 1-8 with the hand may engage the trigger 25 withthe finger. Interposed between this trigger 25 and the pin 20 is anexpansion coil spring 26 which normally urges the operating rod 23together with the magnet 22 outwardly towards the end of the tube remotefrom the handgrip.

A cap-and-shield unit is referred to in its entirety by the referencecharacter U. This unit U is made of a nonmagnetic material such asplastic and comprises a cup-shaped cap 27 which is fitted over the endof the tube with a frictional press fit that is sufficient to maintainthe unit in position against the influence of the spring 26. However,the unit U may be removed to permit disassembly of the magnet 22 forreplacement purposes.

Extending radially outwardly from the inner edge of the cap 27 is acircular shield 28 which is formed integrally with the cap 27.

Operation While the mode of operation of the magnetic pickup of thisinvention is believed to be obvious from the illustration of the drawingand description of parts given, they may be briefly outlined as follows:

In the ordinary effective position which is depicted in Figure 2, thespring 26 urges the magnet 22 against the capped end of the tube. Inthis position an operator may grasp the handgrip 18 and insert the capend into an acid vat in the manner shown in Figure 1 so that metallicfilings are picked up and will collect about the cap 27. This actionwill take place due to the fact that the magnetic force is effectivethrough the plastic cap.

After removal from the vat to a place where it is desirable to releasethe filings, the operator simply exerts a pull on the trigger 25 withhis finger. This retracts the magnet 22 into the position shown inFigure 4. As this actiontakes place, the shield 28 prevents the metallicfilings from moving up along the tube with the magnet. Due to theincrease of the magnetic gap, the metallic filings will now be releasedas depicted in Figure 4. The operator, simply by releasing the trigger25, restores the magnetic-pickup device to its effective operatingcondition.

While a preferred specific embodiment of the invention is hereinbeforeset forth, it is to be clearly understood that the invention is not tobe limited to the exact arrangements, materials, and devices illustratedand described, because various modifications of these details may beprovided in putting the invention into practice within the purview ofthe appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a magnetic pickup, a plastic tube having a bore, a magnet in thebore of said tube at one end and slidable therein, a cap-and-shield unitmounted on said tube at the end in which said magnet is located andincluding a circular shield extending radially outwardly from the tube,a guide carried by said tube and extending inwardly into the borethereof, a metallic rod mounted in said guide and having one and securedto said magnet by magnetism, a spring normally urging said rod towardsaid cap-and-shield unit, and a manually operable trigger for movingsaid rod against the influence of said spring.

2. In a magnetic pickup, a plastic tube having a bore a magnet in thebore of said tube at one end and slidable therein, a cap-and-shield unitmounted on said tube at the end in which said magnet is located andincluding a circular shield extending radially outwardly from the tube,a plastic handgrip formed with a recess for receiving said tube, saidtube being formed with a slot adjacent to said handgrip and having apair of guides extending into said bore, a metallic rod in said guideshaving one end connected to said magnet by magnetism and a trigger atthe other end extending through said slot, a spring abutment carried bysaid tube, and'an expansion coil spring interposed between said springabutment and said trigger.

3. In a magnetic pickup, a plastic tube having one end closed by a plugand the other end by a plastic cap-andshield unit, said unit including acap that is fitted over said tube with a friction fit and a circularshield extending radially outwardly therefrom, a cylindrical magnetreciprocally mounted in said bore at the end carrying saidcapa'nd-shield unit, a pair of guides extending radially .into saidbore, a metallic rod slidahly received in. said guide and having one endconnected to said magnet by magnetism, said tube being formed with aslot, a trigger connected to the other end of said rod and extendingthrough said slot, a spring abutment carried by said tube, an expansioncoil spring interposed between said spring abutment and said trigger,and a handgrip in the nature of a pistol grip formed with a recessreceiving the plugged end of said tube.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS512,381 Keyes Jan. 9, 1894 2,656,211 Zachary Oct. 20, 1953 2,683,618Long July 13, 1954 2,733,948 Russell Feb. 7, 1956 2,733,949 Russell Feb.7, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 122,983 Australia Apr, 6, 1944

